Finance Committee on May 16th, 2017

Evidence of meeting #91 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was public.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-44

MPs speaking

Robert-Falcon Ouellette

Also speaking

Toby Sanger Senior Economist, Canadian Union of Public Employees

Azfar Ali Khan Director, Performance, Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy

Benjamin Dachis Associate Director, Research, C.D. Howe Institute

Andy Manahan Executive Director, Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario

Randall Bartlett Chief Economist, Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy

David Macdonald Senior Economist, National Office, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Mark Romoff President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships

Matti Siemiatycki Associate Professor, University of Toronto, As an Individual

5:55 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships

Mark Romoff

Yes, that's exactly the situation we have with respect to the four ring-road projects in Alberta, because three of those went ahead as P3s and one went ahead as traditional procurement. If we had the full data on those projects... We have an in situ opportunity there to really come up with the kind of analysis that all of us are so keenly interested in.

It's remarkable how limited the data collection is by governments right across the country with respect to traditional procurement. We're a bit better on the P3 front, because it gets so much scrutiny, and so much of the information around value-for-money and other things is put on the websites of the procurement agencies, but there is no equivalent information for traditional projects.

5:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

The last comment goes to Mr. Macdonald. Keep it short because we're down to the last—

5:55 p.m.

Senior Economist, National Office, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

David Macdonald

I would actually disagree with regard to the private contracts that the P3s are putting together. Those private contracts are private. Therefore transparency becomes a huge issue when we are trying to evaluate them after the fact.

5:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

I am sorry to have rushed you, gentlemen, but I think some great information came out of the session.

With that, we have to run to a vote. We thank you for your presentations and your interest.

We will adjourn.